Luxury Hotelier - November 2007 - (Page 37)

Properties | 37 oronto’s fashionable Bloor-Yorkville neighborhood is fast becoming an international stomping ground for the well-heeled. When the new Hazelton Hotel (www.thehazeltonhotel.com), located on the corner of Hazelton and Yorkville avenues, opened its doors in July, the team barely had time to breathe before hosting the Toronto International Film Festival—showing films in the on-site screening room and plumping up pillows for Hollywood’s elite. LUXURY HOTELIER asked general manager Scott de Savoye how his Scott de Savoye experienced staff took it all in stride. “We were ready, our associates were trained and we all had experience in hotels,” he says. “It was like having a new car; you’ve driven for 25 years, but not in this particular car.” The opening and film festival was a huge success, Mr. de Savoye says, because he and his team had the professional experience in place to rise to the occasion. Now that the hotel is into its fourth month of operations, Mr. de Savoye can relax a bit and focus on what makes this property stand out. “We have other competitors here, but what differentiates us is our size and intimacy,” he says. The 77-guestroom property also boasts 18 private residences. As Toronto’s only member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World, the hotel already sets itself T apart from larger branded hotels. Toronto-based YabuPushelberg designed the nine-floor building to reflect luxurious intimacy, a feeling it extended in the property’s spa and meeting space design as well. Discretion is key, Mr. de Savoye says. “Our first pillar is service, but we don’t want our service to be over the top. We’re not rushing at you with 45 bellmen. We’re doing it carefully and anticipatory.” Mr. de Savoye, a Toronto native, joined the Hazelton team two months prior to opening. Before that, the majority of his 18 years in the industry was spent at Fairmont Raffles Hotels International properties. Technology was a key element during construction and design. Control systems from Lutron Electronics (www.lutron.com) power the guestrooms, giving guests and managers ultimate control. “From your bedside table you can remotely open and close the drapes, turn the lighting on or off and digitally request not to be disturbed, or for your room to be made up,” he explains. Front-desk staff uses the system after a guest checks out to ensure features like the bathroom’s heated floors and room lighting are switched off immediately, conserving energy. A locally acclaimed chef is a big draw for business from the greater Toronto area, Mr. de Savoye says. Mark McEwan’s ONE concept includes the dining room, private dining, patio dining and bar, lounge and 24-hour room service. “The buzz around his restaurant has been synonymous with quality,” Mr. de Savoye says. Due in part to the restaurant, he says, 10 to 15 percent of the hotel’s overall business is from locals. He is proud of his team’s service, and the luxurious feel of the guestrooms and large bathrooms, but his favorite spot is the private screening room, designed by Christopher Hansen (www. simplyhomeentertainment.com). The walls are lined with mohair. Twentysix seats are upholstered in soft Italian leather, and guests sit in tiered rows in front of the 16-foot-wide screen. “It’s the best cinema experience you can have,” Mr. de Savoye says. “You feel like you’re the only person in the world.” » BY STEPHANIE RICCA www.LuxuryHotelier.com | November 2007 | Luxury Hotelier http://www.thehazeltonhotel.com http://www.simplyhomeentertainment.com http://www.simplyhomeentertainment.com http://www.lutron.com http://www.LuxuryHotelier.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Luxury Hotelier - November 2007

Luxury Hotelier - November 2007 Contents Editor's Letter Publisher's Letter Inform: News and Notes Network: People Personalities: Traditional Innovator Insight: Smith Travel Research / The Bench Insight: Ypartnership Properties: A Front-Row Seat to Moscow Properties: Northern Star Inspire: Outdoor Showers Deliver: Wellness and Fitness Protocols: The Real Deal Insight: Cornell University Innovate: In-Room Technology Development: Global Project Pipeline Indulge: Coffee and Tea Insight: Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne Connect: Regional Marketing Update: IH/M&RS Luxury Product Collection Dossier: Davide Bertilaccio of The Rocco Forte Collection’s Le Richemond

Luxury Hotelier - November 2007

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